A/N: Thank you for all of the reviews. If I miss anyone, apologies now! I listened to 'Wishing you were somehow here again' when I was writing this chapter.
Pertie: lol, really, you can keep the cat. I hope you like this chapter and thank you for the reviews!
Queensarah: Thank you for all of your reviews. I've been trying to keep it tense without letting it drag on, I hope that I've succeeded in that. I think the relationship between Madame Giry and Christine is a confused one… they love each other but neither know to what extent until something this terrible draws them together. Thanks again!
Ahomelesspirate: Its ok that you haven't reviewed. They are always a bonus but I never EXPECT people to review. Thank you so much for taking the time, as always!
Undermyangels: I think I can tell you now that Philippe has lived but this is a far worse fate for him than him dying, I felt that death was too good for him. Too painless.
Modesty: Thank you as always for your review! Erik NEEDED to tell her that he loves her still… its not only telling for now but for forever, if that makes sense. It hasn't changed after all that's happened and even on his death bed it was the last thing he wanted her to hear from him.
Nabira: Thank you for your review. I hope that the coming chapters don't disappoint you.
AngelofMusic: You've been quiet lately, I hope you're well. Thank you for reviewing. I've updated as quickly as I can but I can't promise you an outcome you'll like…
Hidracones: Thank you for your review I hope you liked chapter 54 and like this one even more!
'There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.' – You're Beautiful, James Blunt.
Chapter 55- Angels in Heaven.
They had travelled home in complete silence, not a word passed between them and Christine stared out of the window, frightened to say what was now felt between them. When they had arrived home he had looked at her carefully, he studied her face before taking her hand and kissing it softly. He didn't need to utter the words that he was sorry, his eyes said it all.
She hoped that her eyes told him the same message.
Instead of calling the maid when they entered the house he walked upstairs and drew her a bath, full of lotions and scented pearls, he made sure that he had poured the water warm but not too hot, carefully warmed her towels by the fire and then left her to bathe. When she was done he helped her to soothe her wounds, holding damp cloths on them and cleaning them carefully. He chose soft cotton clothes and dressed her aching body before leading her to her room and laying her in the warm soft bed. He pulled the blanket gently over her body and he left the room silently.
Christine cried all night.
Over the next few days he was gentle with her, careful but didn't avoid her. He made sure he was available to her every moment of the day, if she needed something then he would find it, if she needed some space then he gave it. Their conversations slowly developed but still Christine had no explanation of the events that occurred all those nights ago. She knew that the days and weeks had begun to pass by, Erik crossed her mind and consistently decided to stay there. She wept for him almost every night. She and Raoul were not sharing a bed but they were making progress, his soft tones and gentle hands were enough to begin to warm her heart again.
Sometimes she would want to kiss him, in her chest she wanted to kiss him and often she did. Chastely but still, it was an affection she was unsure would return. His beautiful face was always there for her, he was always a calming influence, when she screamed her nightmares out loud he would run to her side and grip her hand, squeeze it until she was calm. She knew that Raoul loved her.
But still, all she could think of was Erik.
His face haunted her every dream, there wasn't a night where he didn't attack her thoughts and make her wake in cold sweats. In her dreams he would be there, his sparkling blue eyes were focused onto her before blood started to appear on his face and a force started to pull him away. She would try to hang onto him, their fingertips slotted together, but the force was too great and he'd disappear into the distance leaving her screaming his name.
Sometimes when she woke up, she was sick.
In her other dreams he was Erik, he was the phantom of the opera and the man she knew and loved. His eyes would sparkle for the whole dream, from beginning to end, as they drank her in, he would sing to her in that tone that both excited and calmed her at the same time. Sometimes in her dreams he would smile at her, pull her close and every once in a while she would once again feel the tenderness of his lips against hers.
These dreams never lasted long enough.
In the daytime she missed him desperately, if she closed her eyes she could picture him watching her, his mask that brilliant white which had so contrasted the darkness of his hair. She tried not to close her eyes too often but it was hard to resist it, knowing that this was the only way she would ever see his face again.
Christine rapped softly on the large doors of the Giry house and waited patiently in the warmth of the late summer sun for an answer. The door creaked open some moments later and she was greeted by the welcoming arms of her best friend.
'Christine,' she whispered, pressing her lips into her friend's hair before guiding her into the house.
'Meg,' Christine replied and a smile formed on her lips. How long had it been since she smiled? 'I've missed you and I'm so sorry I haven't been.'
'I understand,' she said gently, touching her arm.
It was just as Christine was about to apologise for Meg's loss that she heard a male voice from the living. She didn't recognise the voice but the glow in Meg's cheeks told her that there was no bad news for her at all.
There was no loss.
'I want you to meet someone.' Meg said.
Meg led her friend through to the living quarters and smiled at the gentleman with the dark hair and light eyes sitting, bandaged, by the fire. Christine looked from Meg to him and then slowly back to Meg.
'Henry,' she said softly. 'Say hello to Christine.'
'Christine,' he said, leaping to his feet and taking her hand softly. 'At last.'
'I thought...' she said but he stopped her.
'So did I,' He said. 'I thought I was dead too. The pain was terrible... but as I fell to Erik and closed my eyes something made me stay. It was a miracle, like an angel and I heard songs in the background.' He closed his eyes. 'I heard music but something told me that it wasn't from the gates of heaven... it was Erik... singing to me like he used to.'
'Like he used to?' Christine asked, confused, and Henry frowned in disbelief. Why didn't she know?
As Meg opened her mouth to explain to Christine her mother walked in and held her hand up to stop her. Meg obediently closed her mouth, dropping her head slightly in understanding.
'Christine,' she said, her voice contained a softness she barely recognised. 'Perhaps,' she said, turning to Meg. 'Christine and I should go for a walk.'
Meg nodded, assuring, before hugging her friend and with a soft smile ushering her towards Madame Giry.
They walked to the fields in silence, the park was busy even in the late evening because the summer had given Paris warm nights. It was Madame Giry who broke the air of quiet between them.
'This may seem like an odd question,' she began, continuing to walk. 'But how are you?'
'I'm improving,' was the only thing that Christine could think of. She glancing at the tall shape of the ballet mistress next to her, knowing that she too must be feeling grief.
'I'm glad,' Giry replied. 'How are you and Raoul doing?'
'As a couple Madame?' she asked and Antoinette nodded. 'We're also improving but I need to be honest with you... it's been so hard'
'I can only imagine what you've both bee feeling,' she said softly, walking on. 'How is he coping with all of this?'
'He hasn't really mentioned it,' Christine said, thinking of Raoul. 'It must be killing him inside.'
'Hmm,' she sounded like she understood. As they reached the end of the field Madame Giry turned to Christine and placed her arms around her, squeezed her gently and then pulled away. 'I need to run into the market for a second, I should be less than ten minutes if you'd like to wait here.'
'Okay,' said Christine.
'You can go back if you'd like,' she said. 'I just thought you might like to enjoy the weather.'
'No,' Christine said, looking around her at the beautiful green of the fields, the slowly setting sun in the sky and birds flying above the trees. 'I'll wait.'
'I need to hurry because they will be packing away now,' Antoinette said as she backed away. 'I'll be back in ten minutes.'
Christine smiled and nodded at her then watched her walk away and move around the corner of the house ahead of them. As she disappeared into the distance Christine turned and once again looked around her, at the beautiful sights around her, at the things she had never really stopped to notice before. She walked a little further, her feet drifted over the softness of the lush grass and she watched as mothers with their children walked by, happy, smiling and enjoying the summer.
She listened to horses hooves tapping at the floor and she closed her eyess, she never noticed how wonderful a sound it was until today. The sound gradually got louder and she walked further and was startled when she realised that the horse was behind her. Before she could turn around the rider spoke.
'Henry is my brother,' the rider said and Christine closed her eyes and felt her head lighten. The horse came up beside her and she look at it's face, black and white... the white covering the left side. Christine looked up to Erik. 'Hello Christine.'
'Erik...' she whispered and wasn't sure if it was to herself or to him. She took his outreached hand and let him pull her up to the horse, she sat in front of him and she noticed that he was riding one handed. His shoulder wasn't yet healed. The stallion walked on, his hooves clicking gently into the dirt, he carried them with ease.
'Henry? Everything…' she said, leaning her back into Erik's body so that the movement of the horse didn't shake her off its back. 'Tell me everything...'